Lifeboat-securing device



E. P. MANLY. LIFEBOAT SECURING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 1. 1920.

1,361,165, I Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

INVEN TOR.

"ATTORNEY.

rarsnr orFicE.

ERNEST IE. MANLY, OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA.

LIFEBOAT-SECURING' DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

Application filed April 1, 1920. Serial No. 370,425.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EnNEs'r P. MANLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portsmouth, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lifeboat- Securing Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to devices adapted to be used for securing life boats in position upon the deck of a vessel and it consists in the novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a securing device which may be readily manipulated in case of an emergency and by inexperienced persons for releasing the life boat from the deck of the vessel.

With this object in view the securing device comprises two sections of chains, rope, or other flexible element, carrying at their inner ends blocks or strips of inflexible material provided at their inner side edges with teeth having sloping or converging sides. The said blocks or strips are rectangular in transverse section and the teeth of one block may fit within the spaces between the teeth of the other block and one of the blocks is provided with a cam device adapted to en-' gage the other blocks whereby the teeth are maintained in engagement with each other as indicated. One of the flexible elements is provided with a hook adapted to engage over the rail or gunwale 'of a life boat and the other flexible element is provided with a hook and a turnbuckle attached thereto. The last mentioned hook being adapted to engage an eye fixed upon the deck of the vessel and the turnbuckle may be used for lengthening or shortening the assembled device.

In the accompanying drawing c Figure 1 is a side elevation of the sepuring device indicating the position of the same when securing the life boat to the deck of a vessel.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device illustrating the parts partially disconnected from each other.

Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the parts completely disconnected from each other.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawing the life boat securing device comprises two sections consisting of a flexible element 1 which may be a section of chain, cable or the like. Both of the flexible elements have attached to their inner ends an inflexible block or strip 2 and the said blocks or strips are provided at their inner side edges with teeth 3, the side edges of which, indicated at 4, converge toward each other whereby the teeth are pointed at their ends. The teeth of one strip or block are adapted to engage within the spaces between the teeth of the other block or strip when they are connected together. Arms 5 are attached to the opposite sides of one block or strip and extend, beyond the teeth thereof andrtrans versely of the block or strip and the teeth. A cam lever 6 is pivoted between the ends of the arms 5 and is adapted to engage against the outer surface of the other block or strip, whereby the blocks or strips are held with their teeth in engagement with each other as hereinbefore indicated. One of the elements 1 is provided at its outer end with a hook 7 which is adapted to engage over the rail or gunwale of the life boat 8. The other flexible element 1 is connected with a turnbuckle 9 which in turn is connected with a hook 10 adapted to engage in an eye 11 mounted upon the deck 12.

When the parts of the securin device are assembled and connected with the life boat and deck the life boat is supported in chocks in a usual manner and the securing devices applied, one to each side of the life boat, hold the same in position on the chocks. When it is desired to release the life boat from the deck the lever 6 is swung, whereby its cam end 13 is moved out of engagement with the adjacent block or strip 2 and the block and the teeth may disengage each other and the block from which the cam end has been removed may slip between the arms 5 of the other block. Thus the life boat is released from the deck and may be put overboard. When the device is applied to the life boat and deck as hereinbefore indicated the sections 1 may be tightened to securely hold the boat in position by turning the turnbuckle 9 in the usual manner.

Having described the invention what is claimed is:

A boat securing device comprising flexible flexible element to objects, the last men- CARNEY DAW.

ends thereof and having at their sides teeth tioned means being located at their outer 10 provided with inclined or converging side end portions. 7 edges, the teeth of one block adapted to en- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature gage with the spaces between the teeth of in p e of two wltnessesthe other block, arms attached to one of the blocks, a cam lever pivoted between the arms ERNEST MANLY' and having the cam end adapted to engage Witnesses: the other block and means for securing the JESSE J. WILKINSON 

